The NSLC has sold marijuana to its very first customer

Halifax massage therapist Alicia Wright is the first person in Nova Scotia to buy legal recreational marijuana, as Canadians finally find out what legalization looks like after 95 years of prohibition.

Alicia Wright of Halifax is the first person to buy legal recreational marijuana in Nova Scotia. She made the purchase at the Clyde Street NSLC store in Halifax. (Tom Murphy/CBC)

A Halifax massage therapist was the first person in Nova Scotia to legally buy recreational marijuana, picking up some rolling papers and pot at a Halifax store Wednesday morning as Canadians finally discovered what legalization looks like after 95 years of prohibition.

Alicia Wright was handpicked by the Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. to be the first person to buy legal weed at the Clyde Street location before the official opening. She jumped the queue ahead of the handful of people lined up since around 7 a.m.

"I'm probably going to consume in a celebratory way but not until after work tonight," she said.

NSLC stores selling marijuana opened at 10 a.m. The lineup at the Clyde Street location in the city's downtown stretched down the street.

By 5 p.m., NSLC reported it sold $393,000 worth of cannabis. The busiest locations were the Clyde Street store and the Sydney River store.

Beverley Ware, a spokesperson for the NSLC, said some locations have run out of certain strains — but none has run out of cannabis.

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Shortly before 7 a.m., there were just a few people lined up waiting for the province's only cannabis exclusive NSLC location on Clyde Street.

Joseph Brown was first in line.

"I think it's like a big deal, it's like a historical moment, right? It's like a crack in like the puritanical ideals of like the past, right? Where it's like, you're going to tell an adult what they can and can't put in their body," he said.

Joseph Brown, in the red hoodie, was first in line at the Clyde Street location this morning. (Shaina Luck/CBC)

As the sun rose at the Joseph Howe Drive location in Halifax, Daniel Moore and his friend were the first two people in line.

"I'm here for this historic day in Canada. It's very exciting," he said.

Moore was anticipating a very big lineup but was happy he was the first there.

That. Was. Fun. 🙌<br>Thank you to everyone who came out to our Countdown To Legalization party with <a href="https://twitter.com/MattMays?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MattMays</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/partner_band?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@partner_band</a> tonight!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hpx2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hpx2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Civilized_Life?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Civilized_Life</a> <a href="https://t.co/y4B11pHTBC">pic.twitter.com/y4B11pHTBC</a>

Daniel Moore was the first in line this morning at the Joseph Howe Drive location. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)

Shortly before midnight, one woman stood outside the venue to enjoy one last illegal joint. She called the moment "bittersweet," and said pot had long brought people together in a "weird instant community," something that will likely change with legalization.

People looking to buy cannabis in Truro had to line up outside the store this morning. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)

In the first hour of opening, customers at the NSLC branch in Truro were asked to line up outside because the marijuana section of the store was so busy. People looking to only buy alcohol could skip the line and go straight inside.

In Nova Scotia, legal cannabis can be purchased at 12 locations, or online through the NSLC's website using a cannabis card.

Ware said under provincial legislation, Nova Scotians aren't currently allowed to order recreational pot from online retailers out of province.